Lewis Hamilton, a little emotional, ran through a roll call of the benefactors and supporters who propelled him towards his 300th grand prix yesterday. So from 38 points adrift at the start of the day, Leclerc is now 63 off Verstappen. A singular theory was advanced by one of their former champions, the late Niki Lauda, when I asked why Michael Schumacher’s glory-soaked era had not been backed up with more success. ‘I lost 25 points here as it was likely I was going to win, and seven in Imola because of my mistake. ‘So at the end of the year if there are 32 points missing then I would know it has come from me, and that I did not deserve to win the championship.

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